Pulp-drying machine.



W. M. BARBER. PULP DRYING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 6, 1909.

990,950. Patented May 2, 1911.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

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W. M. BARBER. PULP DRYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6, 1909.

990,950. Patented May 2, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. M. BARBER. PULP DRYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6, 1909.

990,950. Patented May 2, 1911.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Fig.3.

. exact description, reference being had to the WILLIAM- M. issnenngor' somnRvILLE, MAssAcHUsE'r'rs.

uritan-Ne MAoHn iE.

Speitication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1911.

Application filed August 6, 1909. Serial No. 511,549.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM M. BARBER, of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, a citizen of the United States,.have invented a new and useful .Improvement'in Pulp-Drying Machines, of which the'following is a full, clear, and

accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

My invention relates to a machine adapted to act; primarily as a pulp drying machine, but which incidentally is adapted also to form wet pulp into a sheet for producing leather-board, so called, or cardboard.-

The essential object of my invention is to provide a machine capable of drying a large quantity of pulp. in a relatively short space of time and which machine will operate to subject the Wet pulp to such influence or to the effect of such combined influences that a high percentage of the Water in the pulp will e extracted from it and the pulp be formed into a sheet or compact mass in which form it can conveniently and economically be shipped.

In the'machine embodying my invention it is my further object to provide for the forming or molding of the wet pulp into a continuous sheet directly as the pulp comes from the mass and before the application of pressureto it and to then provide for the gradual compression of this sheetin such manner that a maximum amount of water will be squeezed from it, a'uniformity of thickness be maintained and the sheet eventually assume a smooth. finished and attractive appearance. 1

My invention comprises various elements of construction and structural combination all ofwhich features canbest be seen and understood by reference to the drawings, in

which 7 i Figure 1 shows the machine in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the machine, and Fig. 3 shows a portion of the machine in front elevation.

, In the drawings :The frame of the machine comprises the sections 1 and 2, which,

with their component parts, support differ- 'entoperating parts of the machine as will hereinafter be explained.-

Referring to section 1 of the frame or that part located at the forward end of the machine where the wet pulp is first received, attention is directed to the hopper 3 mounted upon this portion of the frame. The wet pulp is emptied into this hopper from any suitable source of supply. The hopper comprises the sides 44 separated from one another a distance substantially commensurate with the width of the sheet to Be formed.

5 represents the bottom of the, hopper which connects with its respective sides and has an inclination of preferably about 45. This bottom forms as it were a slide or chute over which the wet pulp may gravitate or flow out of the hopper.

6 is a gate or a movable end of the hopper arranged to cooperate with the slide 5 in such manner that the pulp will gravitate or flow out of the hopper only in the form of a soft ribbon or sheet of pulp. In other words, the

"gate is so arranged that its bottom end will approach the bottom of the hopper or slide 5 (preferably at a point near the lower end thereof but removed therefrom), the gate acting to hold back the pulp within the hop per and allowing so much only of it to escape as may flow beneath the gate, the height of the gate controlling of course the amount 'or thickness of the sheet of pulp. For the purpose of controlling the height of the gate it is arranged to slide in ways 7 formed on the respective sides of the hopper. On. the outside of the gate aflixed to it are racks 8-8 engagingwhich are pinions 9 9 arranged upon a shaft 10 journaled in bearings 11 fixed to the frame and operated by a hand wheel 12 arranged at one end of the shaft (see Fig. It is obvious that as the hand wheel is moved in one direction or the other the gate will be moved up ordown.

As the ribbon or sheet of pulp is formed and flows from the hopper it passes olf the lower end '13 of the slide 5. projecting beyond the point of the gate onto the top peripheral surface of a large drum 14 or rather onto a felt or canvas 15 wrapped.

around the drum. The drum- 14 is mounted upon a shaft jou'rnaled to turn in bearings 16 aflixed to the frame and is so disposed that the drum will turn beneath the inclined chute leading from the hopper so that the sheet of pulp as it fiows from the hopper may become deposited on the down-turning top side of the drum or felt thereon at a point preferably'just in front of the, apex of the drum. the inclined chute 5 mid its extension 13 being'inclined in the direction of the drums rotation and coiiperating. with the drum substantially tangentially. In

this connect-ion attention is directed to the flanges 17 arranged on the drum at either end or side thereof, which flanges act to retain the sheet of pulp as it flows from the hopper and prevent it from escaping laterally from the drum, in which connection it will be observed that the extension 13 of the slide extends down, between these flanges on the drum in order that the lower end of the slide may properly cooperate with the drum.

As the sheet is carried downwardly and around the drum or felt wrapped thereon it is subjected at first to a very slight but gradually increasing degree of compression.

Pressure is primarily administered by means of a perforated or wire belt 18 which renders partially around the drum and between which belt and the drum 'or felt thereon the sheet is adapted to pass. Though the beltfas itrenders around the drum assists in compressing the sheet of pulp for extracting the moisture from it, yet this func= tion is'essentially performed by means of a series of compression rolls with which the belt isreinforced or backed. The especial function performed by the belt is that of holding the sheet of pulp in place against the side of the drum or felt in order that the sheet may withstand the otherwise disruptive influence exerted by the compression rolls which act to squeeze the moisture from the sheet, the moisture escaping through the perforations or openings in the belt. As may best be seen by reference to Fig. 2, the

belt 18 is an endless belt and renders in turn around the idler roll 19 arranged in the forward part of the machine in front of.

the machine, thence upwardly around an idler roll 20, thence inwardly over an idler roll 21'and down around the drum, the belt encompassin referably more than half of the drum. f tbr leaving the drum the belt then renders over a pulley 22 which, as will hereinafter be described, is one of the press rolls, thence back to the point of beginning. In referring to the disposition of these rolls over which the belt renders, attention is especially directed to the idler roll 21 over which the belt renders just before passing onto and around the drum. This idler roll is'located at a point adjacent to and just in front of the mouth of the hopper, the disposition of the roll being such that as the elt renders off this idler roll onto the drum it will act to gradually compress the sheet of pulp coming from the mouth of the hopper as it is carried around on the drum or felt, the pressure at this point being so slight that the sheet of pulp will not be retarded or held back causing a thickening of-the sheet, but rather will be seized an carried forward without any action which will interfere witha proper uniformity in the thickness of the sheet. the sheet after it has once entered between the drum and the belt being then so compressed and held that it is less subjected to a disruptive influence. As for the roll 22 around which the belt renders after passing around .the drum, it will be observed that thisroll is a roll presentinga relatively large bearing surface, on which account it acts to properly hold the belt drawn around and against the drum, the belt preferably being slackin the part between the roll 22 and the roll 19. Attention is also directed to the fact that the thedrum by means of its flanges 17, the belt fitting snugly' against these flanges in order 'thatt-he sheet of pulp along the edges may be properly retained not only by the flanges themselves acting to form and hold the edges of the sheet but also by the belt at these points.

As was before described, after the sheet has entered between the belt and the side of the frame that portion of the sheet held by thebelt against the side of the drum is subjected to the influence of a. series of compression rolls consisting primarily of a number of relatively small press rolls 23 successively arranged near one another so as to maintain an almost continuous bearing stress against the belt for some considerable distance around the drum in order that,

especially at the point of primary compression, the belt will be so reinforced that the pulp interposed as it is between the belt and the drum will not strain the belt or cause it to unduly bulge outwardly away from the drum at any point as might otherwise occur if the belt were not properly reinforced at this point. -Moreover, should the pressure of the roll unduly distort the belt the sheet will not be evenly compressed, less moisture will be extracted and the sheet will not have a uniformity of thickness, a point very desirable to be obtained. The rolls 23 are also adapted and arranged to the end that as the sheet forces the belt outwardly against the rolls they may act to compress the sheet with a gradually increasing degree of pressure. For the purpose of properly maintaining the rolls and in-order also that the position of all the rolls 23 may be simultaneously varied to accommodate sheets of different thickness, the rolls are arranged upon a franie24; consisting essentially of side bars 25 in which the rolls are arranged to turn. These side bars are curved so as to conform to the peripheral curve of the drum, or in other words, so that the rolls borne by them may properly cooperate with the belt around the drum. The roll-carrying frame 2 1 is pivoted in the main frame section 1 of the machine at the point 26 below the drum, there being journaled in said main frame at said point a rod 27 to which theroll-carrying frame is secured by arms 28 with the effect that the;

of the rolls with respect to the drum. In .this connection it is to be noted that by reason of the pivoting of the frame at a point below the drum, as the frame of rolls is moved with respect to the drum the rolls will have a gradually increasing degree of movement from the bottom roll upwardly. In other Words, for" any adjustment of the frame the top roll will have moved a considerably greater distance than the bottom roll. The advantage of this resides in the fact that as the pulp enters between the belt and the drum it. is very soft so inorder not to disrupt it there is need of a much greater variation in the adjustment of the bearing roll at this point than farther along the surface of the drum after the sheet has become -compressed. The frame of rolls 25 may be adjusted with respect to the drum in any suitable manner. I have shown links 29 pivoted to each side bar of the frame.- These links pivotally connect with blocks 30 arranged to slide upon the frame 1 the machine. Eachof these blocks is controlled by a hand'screw 31 fixed to turn in bearings 32between which the blocks slide as the screw is turned.

Another capability of the roll-carrying frame 24 resides in the fact that its side bars fit snugly adjacent to the flanges of the drum and the inner faces of the bars are flush with the inner faces of the rolls carried by the frame with the effect that the bars assist in retaining the-belt alongthe edges thereof on which account an even pressure is imparted along the edges of the sheet which effect together with the retention imparted by the flanges of the drum give a finish to the edges of 'the sheet with no possible chance for the pulp to escape.- q

Beyond the rolls 23 I have provided another bearing roll 33.. This roll is arranged between the flanges of the drum to bear against the same and the belt wound thereon and turns upon a shaft 34. This" shaft is journaled to turn in the ends of weighted levers 35 one on each side of the frame .1 of the machine, preferably on the outside thereof. The levers are each fulcrumed to j a bracket 36'forming a' part of the frame 1.

The weighted arms of the respective levers it is to be-n0ted are relatively much longer than the power arms bearing the roll wlth the effect that the roll is yieldingly held to bear hard "against the surface of the drum with the pressure varying with the positions of'the Weights on the lever arms. The roll 22 over which the belt passesasit renders off the drum is also a pressure roll. This roll is adjustably supported by mounting the same upon a shaft 37 journaled to turn on blocks. 38 slidably arranged upon the bearings 40 affixed to the frame.

990,9so 7 i=1.

attain section of the frame. These blocks -a;re controlled by hand screws 39 extending through the blocks and fixed to turn in By turning the hand screws in one direction or the other the bearing position of the roll 22 may be varied with respect to the drum.

After the sheet of pulp has passed betu'een tliebelt and the drum and been subjected to the action of the various pressure rolls before noted, it passes off the drum over the roll 22 and is then further compressed for extracting the moisture from it and hardening the sheet. The rolls for accomplishing this are arranged in section 2 of the frame. There are shown two sets of rolls 41, 42 and 43, 44. respectively, and I prefer that they shall be heavy rolls capable of exerting an intense degree of pressure as the sheet is sufliciently'hard to withstand such pressure. Of these rolls the lower rolls 42 and 44 of the respective sets of rolls are mounted on shafts 45 journaled to turn in fixed bearings 46 set in the frame. Inasmuch as it may be inexpedient or undesirable in the operation of the machine for the upper rolls 41 and 43 to rest normally in contact with the complementary rolls. in-

asmuch as the bearing stress of the upper rolls might be sufficient to disrupt the sheet if fed betweenthe rolls, I have arranged whereby each of the rolls 41 and 43 may be a'djustably maintained in a position away from the under rolls yet in a position to exert a proper pressure upon the sheet.

These boxes are slidably mounted to slide in a vertical direction in Ways 49 affixed to the frame. The upper ends of these ways are crossed by head bars or plates 50. Connecting with the respective boxes and extending upwardly throughthese head bars are supporting rods 51 having threaded shanks. ()n these threaded shanks are arranged hand wheels 52the hubs 53 of which bear against the head plates with the effect that as the hand wheels are turned the sliding boxes will be moved up or down and the rolls j ournaled .in the boxes as aforesaid correspondingly moved or be adjustably-maintained and positioned with respect to their complementary rolls.

The sheet of pulp is directed to pass over the bearing roll 22 and thence through the successive sets of press rolls by means of the 'felt' 15. This felt, as before described, is

the" roll 22. The felt will then perform the function of a doctor in removing t e sheet of pulp from the belt. The reason for this is that the belt is perforated while the felt presents a smooth surface with the effect that the sheet of pulp will by the suction induced cling to the felt and be carried by it between the successive sets of press rolls and will not follow the belt.

Though the felt 15 performs the important function above described yet it performs also another useful function, that is, in relation to the drum.

By reason of the fact that the machine is especially adapted to be used in connection withthe drying of sulfite pulp, it is necessary that the drum be made of some material impervious to the action of the acids used in making the pulp. I accordingly make the drum preferably of copper which presents a rather smooth surface. The disadvantage of such surface is that when the soft sheet of pulp is deposited upon the drum from the hopper, as before described, the pulp is apt to run or become disrupted, if the surface be too smooth. By facing the drum with the felt, however, just the proper retentive surface is provided for holding the soft pulp as it is deposited upon the drum. The felt presents also a better resisting surface for holding the pulp and maintaining the'integrity of the sheet than 'if the sheet were held directly against the face of the drum. As far as these purposes are concerned, however, apart from the function of the felt in carrying the pulp after it leaves the drum, it might as well be wrapped around the drum and afiixed thereto.

'Reference has been made to the fact that that portion of the perforated or wire belt passing from the roll 22 back to the idler roll 19 is slack. Such disposition of the belt is especially made in order that the slack may extend downrintoa tank 54- containing water or other substance acting to wash the belt or neutralizing any acidthat may collect on ,it and which otherwise might cor-.

rode or injure the belt. In this connection I would explain that I prefer to make the belt of copper.)

For the purpose of taking care of the water that may fall from the drumthere is located beneaththe drum on the top of the receptacle 54 a cover 55 cylindrically concaved in form in order that the Water as it falls from the drum onto the cover may be directed to pour out at either side thereof and be carried away.- The cover 55 is also so arranged as not to interfere with the proper passage-of the belt throughthe tank. Before referring to the operation of the machine,'brief reference will be made to the mode of o erating it:

In the ase portion of section 1 of the frame is arranged a driving shaft 56. Affixed to this shaft is a pinion 57 meshing with a gear 58 arranged upon the shaft on which the'drum is mounted for rotating the drum. Meshing with the gear 58 is a gear 59 arranged upon the shaft 37 bearing the roll 22 and by which means this roll is positively rotated. Arranged also upon the shaft of the roll 22 is a sprocket wheel 60 around which renders a chain 61 connecting with a sprocket 62 arranged on the shaft 3 1 of the press roll 33 for turning this roll. Arranged also on the shaft of the roll 33 is another sprocket 63 around which renders a chain 64 which connects with a sprocket 65 arranged on the shaft of the idler pulley 19 for. turning this pulley Arranged also on the shaft of this idler pulley is a sprocket 66 around which renders a chain 67 connecting with a sprocket 68 arranged upon the shaft of the idler pulley 20. It will accord.- ingly be seen that besides the drum practically all the rolls or pulleys around which the belt 18 is renderingare positively driven, which construction I prefer to employj 1 As for the secondary mechanism consisting of the successive sets of press rolls, power is primarily applied to a driving shaft 69 journaled in the section 2 of theframebe .tween the lower rolls of the successive sets of press rolls. Mounted upon this shaft upon one side of the machine is a gear 70 which meshes respectively with gears 71 and 72 upon the shafts of the respective'lower press rolls 4:2 and 44. The upper press rolls 41 and 43 are operated from off the lowerpress rolls by means of gears 73, 74 mounted uponth'e shafts of these respective rolls meshing with the gears 71 and 7 2 arranged upon the respective shafts of the lower; rolls. Referring now briefly to the operation of the machine: Assuming the machine has started, the gate controlling the hopper is opened when a thin loose sheet of pulp of substantially the same width as the sheet I to be formed will slide out onto the top surface of the drum. The speed of the drum and operating parts should be such that there will be no disruption of the sheet at r the point where it leaves the end of the slide and meets the surface of the drum or. felt on the drum, the speed being such as to take up the pulp thus deposited and carry it forward. The speed of the drum, however, should be such as to carry the pulp forward in such manner that the soft sheet, loosely resting as it does on the top surface of the drum, will have no opportunity to run before it is engaged by the belt which acts to hold it in place against the drum." The sheet will then pass around the drum by and through the various sets of rolls in the manner before described.

I wish to include by the term pulp any material which can be used in the machine operative though thisexpression is meant more specificallyto refer to wood pulp.

By the term felt I wish to include any substance' capable' of performing the func tions of the feltas above; described. In fact I prefer to employ a canvas felt.

In further reference to the felt it should be understood that while the use of the felt has its advantages as. above explained, yet it is not an indispensable element of the machine which is still properly I even if the felt be entirely eliminated..

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States I 1. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a rotary drum, an endless belt arranged to render onto said drum,

thence around the same. in part and oil the same, a receptacle for containing loose pulp, means whereby pulp may gravitate from said receptacle in the form of a soft sheet, and said sheet be directed to pass be.- tween said belt and drum and be initially compressed by said belt rendering onto said drum, and means backing said" belt and ar ranged whereby said belt may be reinforced to further compress the pulp passing between it and said drum with a gradually increasing vdegree of compression continuing for anappreciable distance around said drum. 1

2. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a rotary drum, an endless belt arranged. to render onto said drum, thence around the same in part andoif the same, a receptacle for containing loose pulp, means whereby pulp may gravitate from said receptacle in the form of a soft sheet, and said sheet be directed to pass between said belt and drum, and a series of press rolls backing said beltat successive points around the peripheral surface of said drum the first one of which rolls is removed from said sur face of the drum and the others of the rolls in relation to said firstroll being arranged to gradually approach said surface of the drum whereby said belt will be reinforced to compress the pulp passing between it and said drum with. a gradually increasing de gree of compression continuing for an appreciable distance around said drum. I 3. In amachine of the character specified,

said belt at successive points around the peripheral surface ofsaid drum the first" onemf which rolls is removed from said surface of the drum and the others of the rolls in relation to said first roll being arranged to gradually approach saidsu-rface of the drum whereby said belt will be reinforced to compress the pulp passing between it and said drum with a gradually increasing degree of compression continuing for an appreciable distance around said-drum.

4. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a rotary drum, an endless belt arranged to render onto said drum, thence around. the same in partand off the same, a hopper for containing pulp located above said drum, means whereby pulp in said hopper may gravitate therefrom in. a soft sheet and the sheet be directed onto said drum to be carried forward thereby as the drum is rotated to pass between said belt and drum, and a serles of press rolls backing said belt at successive points around the peripheral surfaceof said drum the first one of which rolls is removed from said surface of the drum, and the others of therolls in relation to said first roll being arranged to gradually approach said surface of the drum whereby said belt will be reinforced to compress the pulp passing between it and said drum witha gradually increasing degree of compression continuing for an appreciable distance around said drum.

; 5. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a rotary drum, an endless belt arranged to render onto said drum, thence around the same in same, a hopper for containmg pulp located above said drum, means whereby pulp in said hopper may gravitate therefrom 111 a soft sheet and the sheet be directed onto said drum to be carried forward thereby as successive oints around the peripheral surface of sa1 drum the first one of which rolls is removed from said surface of the drum and the others of the rolls'in relation to said first roll being arranged to gradually approach said surface of the .drum whereby said belt will be reinforced to compress the pulp passing between it and said drum with a gradually lncreasing degree of compression continuing for 'an appreciable distance around said drum.

6. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a rotary drum, a belt rendering around said drum in' part, means whereby pulp may be'fed to pass between said belt and drum as said drum is rotated, a series of press rollsl-backing said belt, a frame supporting said rolls, and means whereby the position of said frame and rolls may be adjustably changed.

part and ofi the ,Z.--In a machine of the character specified, the combination with a rotary drum, of an endless perforated wire belt arranged to pass" onto said drum, thence around the peripheral surface thereof in part and off the same, a receptacle for containing loose pulp, means whereby pulp may gravitate from said receptacle in the form of a soft sheet, and said sheet be directed to pass between said belt and drum, and means reinforcing said belt to compress said sheet of pulp with it gradually increasing degree of compression.

8. In a machine of the character specified, the combination with a rotary drum, of an endless perforated wire belt arranged to pass onto said drum, thence around the peripheral surface thereof in part and off the same, a hopper for containing pulp located above said drum and cooperating therewith in a manner whereby pulp in said hopper may gravitate therefrom in a continuous sheet insubstantially the direction of the drums rotation and the sheet be deposited on said drum to be carried forward thereby and pass between said belt and drum, and means reinforcing said belt to compress said sheet of pulp with a gradually increasing degree of compression.

9. In a machine of the character specified,

' the combination of a rotary drum, an endless belt running onto said drum, thence bent to pass around a part of the drum and ofl the same, means for positively drivingsaid belt whereby it may draw snugly against that portion of the drum over which it renders, a receptacle for 'containing loose pulp, means whereby pulp may gravitate from said receptacle in the form of a soft sheet, and said sheet be directed to pass between said belt and drum as the drum is rotated, and means reinforcing said belt and retaining it to compress the pulp passing as aforesaid between the belt and drum with a gradually increasing degree of compression.

10. In a machine of the character specified, the-combination of a rotary drum, a belt running |onto said drum, thence bent to pass around a portion of the drum and off the same, a pulley over which said belt ren ders as it passes off said drum,'means for positively driving said pulley, means whereby pulp may be fed to pass between said belt and drum as the drum is'rotated, and means backing said belt whereby the belt may be reinforced to compress the pulp passing between it and said drum witha gradually increasing degree of compression.

11. In'a machine of the character specified, the combination of a rotary drum, a belt running onto said drum, thence bent to pass around a part of said drum and off the same, a pulley over which said belt renders prior to its passing onto said drum, a pulley over which, said belt renders as it passes .fied, the combination of a rotary drum, a

belt rendering around the-same in part, a hopper for containing pulp-f'loeated above .saiddrum, means whereby pulp in said hopper may be directed to gravitate therefrom in a continuous sheet insubstantially the direction of the drums 'rotationand the sheet be initially deposited on the top surface of said drum at a point in front of the apex thereof on the down-turning side of'the drum and be carried forward thereby as the drum is rotated to pass over said drum between said belt and drum.

13. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a rotary drum having flanges at either'end' thereof, a hopper for containing pulp located above said drum, a slide leading from the mouth of said hopper between the flanges of said drum and cooperating with saiddrum at a point in front of the apex thereof on the down-turning side of the drum whereby pulp-flowing from said hopper by the way of saidslide may be deposited on the drum at the point aforesaid and be carried forward by the drum as it is rotated, and a belt rendering around said drum'in part between the flanges thereof, said belt being adapted and arranged to pass onto said drum at a point just i front of the slide cooperating'therewith ad aforesaid for gradually com ressing the pulp deposited on the drum fi-om said slide as it enters to pass between said belt and drum.

14. In a machine of thecharacter specified, the combination with a-rotary drum ,'of a felt wrapped around'said drum, a belt adapted and arranged to pass onto said drum, thence around a portion thereof faced with said felt and thence off said drum, means whereby pulp may be fed to pass around said drum between said felt and belt and be initially compressed by said belt, said belt acting also to hold the sheet of pulp in place against said, felt as it passesaround said drum, and means for further compressing the sheet of pulp so held'against said drum with a gradually increasing degree of compression.

15. In a machine of the character specified, the combination with a rotary drum, of an endless felt wrapped around said drum and passing onto and off the same, an'endless belt arranged to pass onto said drum, thence around a portion thereof faced with said felt and thence off said drum, means whereby pulp may be fed to pass around said drum between said felt and belt and be initially compressed by said belt, said belt acting also to hold the sheet of pulp in place against said felt as it passes around said drum, means for further compressing-the sheet of pulp so held against said drum with a gradually increasing degree of compression, a roll overwhich said felt render after the compression of said sheet of pulp as aforesaid, and means for arranging said felt and belt whereby they may separate after passing off said roll.

16. In amachine of the character specified, the combination with a rotary drum, of

a set of press roll's arranged beyond said drum, a felt passed around said drum and the upper one of said set of press rolls, an

' endless belt rendering onto, over and thence oil from a portion of said drum faced with said felt, means comprising in part aroll located between said drum and said set of press rolls over which roll said felt and belt are adapted to pass, means for feeding pulp to pass in a sheet over said drum between said belt and felt, and means for compressing said sheet during said passage.

17. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a rotary drum, a hopper for containing pulp located above said drum and cooperating therewith in a manner whereby pulp in said hopper may grayitate therefrom in a continuous sheet in. substantially the direction of the drums rotation and the sheet of pulpbe deposited on the top surface of said drum at a point in front of the apex thereof on the downand belt turning side of the drum and be carried for- 4 ward thereby as the drum is rotated, a belt cooperating with said drum just in front of the point where said drum receives the deposited pulp as aforesaid 'whereby the belt may initially compress said sheetof pulp, and which beltthence'passes around said drum in part and off the same whereby the sheet of pulp after the initial compression thereof by said belt may pass around the drum between said drum and belt to be retained by said belt against said drum, and means whereby a further gradual co1npression of said sheet ofpulp may be effected during its passage over said drum.

18. In a machine of the character specitied, the combination with a rotary drum, of a felt wrapped around said drum, a belt adapted and arranged to pass onto said drum, thence around a portion thereof faced with said felt and thence off said drum, a

hopper located above said drum and 00- operating therewith in a manner whereby pulp in said hopper may gravitate therefrom in a continuous sheet and be deposited to pass between said belt and felt whereby it may be initially compressed by said belt, said belt acting also to hold the sheet of pulp in place against said felt as it passes Q around said drum, and means for effecting afurther radual compression of the sheet of pulp d drum.

WILLIAM' M. BARBER.

uring its passage around said 

